Screen printing machine with oscillating stencil frame



Jan. 19, 1965 E. LANDEsMAN SCREEN PRINTING MACHINE WITH OSCILLATING STENCIL FRAME Filed Oct. l5, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOK EUGENE LANDESMAN BY N KM ATTO R N EY Jan. 19, 1965l E. LANDEsMAN 3,166,011

scREEN PRINTING MACHINE: NITE oscILLATING sTENcIL FRAME Filed oct. 15, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY Jan. 19, 1965 E. LANDEsMAN {3l66011 SCREEN PRINTING MACHINE WITH OSCILLATING S'IEIICIL]r FRAME Filed oct. 15, 1962 4 sh'eets-sheet 3 FIG 3 ATTO RN EY Jan- 19, 1965 E. LANDEsMAN 3,166,011

SCREEN PRINTING MACHINE WITH OSCILLATING STENCIL FRAME Filed Oct. l5, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEY United States PatentOiiice 3,166,011 Patented Jan. 19, A1965 3,166,011 SCREEN PRINTWG MACHINE WITH GSCLLATHG STENCIL FRAME Eugene Landesman, 516 East Drive, University City, Mo. Filed Oct. 15, 1962, Ser. No. 230,321 Claims. (Cl. 101-123) This invention relates in general to print-ing machines and, more particularly, to certain new and useful improvements in screen printing machines. v

It is an object of the present invention to provide a screen printing machine which comprises a marked simplicity of parts, being adapted for presentation as a compact, space-saving unit; which is highly reliable in operation; and which may be produced at relatively low cost.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a screen printing machine having a low component count and incorporating novel motion transmitting meas for effecting reciprocal squeegee travel with coordinated swinging movement of the associated screen or stencil.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a screen printing machine which is especially durable in operation and which through its novel construction is resistant to breakdown obviating customary attend*- ant costly down-time as encountered with currently used machines.

, Other objects and details of the invention will be apparent from the following description, when read in connection with the accompanying drawing (four sheets) Y wherein- FIGURE l is al' side elevational Vview of a `screen printing machine constructed in accordance with; and em-V bodying, the present invention, illustrating the same at the termination of the operative stroke of the squeegee.'

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view. v FIGURE 3 is a rear end view. i FIGURE 4 is a top plan view of thespeed reducer taken on the line 4 4 of FIGURE l. y

FIGURE 5 isia vertical transverse sectional view taken n the line S-S of FIGURE 2, illustrating the squeegee the Vchine-having a base plate T1 preferablyformed with de? pending side-skirts 2 which may be'welded tomounting brackets 3 -for 'secrzurement to a` suitable support member s. Rigidly xed to the undersurfa'ce ofplate 41 andl extend; ing forwardly -therefrom is a pairofl support armsk 4,V 4';

as of channel shape, which in their'lexrtended'portion,v mount spaced transverse members 5, 5 upon which is Y carried a flat print table '6 for receivingwork blanks w and supporting same during machine operation. A

At its forwardor print-table proximate and portion, base plate 1 mounts a pair ofvupstandingspaced apart transversely therebetween. Fixed to r'od9, s'by welding,

. forv rocking therewith, is anelongated''plated-1t)V rigidly secured to the `rearwardly directed faces 'Tof a'pair of spaced apart adjustable clamps 117,311. which ltterpengage the rearward end of a rectangularV screenframelZrflto which is attached a stencilj or screen 13 of customaryconstruction. Screen frlarnellz` extends forwardly in overlying relaitonship to print table `6, and by virtue ofthe f connection 4to pivotrod 9,.' is adapted for swingable movement about the axis thereof between lowered or operative position wherein it will be presented for d-isposition of screen 13 upon a work blank w (see FIGURE 5), and upper or inoperative position, as shown in FIGURE 1, for permitting withdrawal of the now printed blank and the successive insertion of another blank w.

Rearwardly of arms 7, 7 there is provided a pair of aligned mounts-14 for pillow blocks 15 for journaling of a shaft 16, which is axially parallele to hinge rod 9. Carried on shaft 16 for rockable movement therewith is a squeegee frame indicated S and comprising a pair of aligned support arms 17, 17 lixed in their lower portions on said shaft 16 and each being secured at its upper end to the rearward ends of forwardly extending parallel side rails 18, 1d respectively; said latter being formed preferably of channels which open toward each other. Side rails 18, 18' progress forwardly above screen frame 12 and are rigidly interconnected at their outer, forward ends by a transverse end piece 19 on the outer face of which is fixed an eyelet 20, through which extends the upper end of a relatively short, exible connector or chain 21. The lower end of chain 21 is secured, as by means of an eyelet 22, to the central portion of the forward end of screen frame 12. By means of said chain connection, screen frame 12 and squeegee'frame S will be -simultaneously rockable about their respectivepivots for joint movement. Adjacent its lower end, beneath shaft16, support arm 17 mounts a pin 23 which is engaged to the forward end of the forward rod 24 of an extensionV spring l25 which, Vatrits rearward end, is engaged to a companion rod 26 for connection to a bracket 27:1o`cated proximate ,the rearward edge of baseplate `1.- Thus, spring 2S directly urges saidsupport arm V17 rearwardly -a't its lowerrend and hence thereby biases squeegeelframe S into Vdownwardly swung position (FIGURE 5); theliinit' of such movement being determinedV by abutment of they lower end of support arm 17 against a detent or stop 27'v so that in full down position said. frame, S-will be in sub'- stantially horizontal dispositionfplanarwise parallelto y print table 6; f

V -V Disposed upon basel-1 by means of a pair'of uprights 28, 2-8 to. which are Vaffixed cross members 29' isa prime i mover 3Q, having aldrive shaft'31 on thev outer'end-fof Y which is mounted-a`pulley32, preferably ofthe variable pitch4 variety, engaging th'e upper portion. of an endless drive belt 33; which latter in its lower` portion is trained about a relatively enlarged pulley 34 carriedson'the end of the input shaft 35 of -a speed reducing unit indicated arms 7, 7,`earch of which at its upper end is'fapertured, v as at S, to form a Ajouinal for a hingerrod 9fextending Y Y portiontj45; the lsaid arcuate ,portion-46fterminates a point slightly aboveV railsg18,"-18.i Y' i' p ,i f adapted'to rotate'Y soV that crank '41 willbe'swung through f i afpreferablycounterjclockwise path Yas' viewed jin FIG-V Y URE Land as indicated by .-arit'ows., As will b'edrescribed s lmore fully hereinbelow,camfollowerj 43 engages'cam c generally at 36. VSpeed reducer 36 issecured upon a mounting 37 in elevated relation to base 1.; lPrime'rnover 36 is connected, as byfa conductor-38 to a convenient Y v vsource of electricity, and maybesuitably provided with a t y foot control element 39 foroperation of machine A by an individual positioned at thefront end effsaid machine and engaged inwithdrawingV printed forms -andinsertion ofprblanksw t y I j.

Speed. reducer 36incorporates-fr an Yout'pntyshaft 40 mounting a crank 41, on the oute'rend of which is secured a pinV 42 carrying a cam'` follower 43` ,for engaging the upper surface ofanarrnflike cainf44, vCam 44 is fixed at its forward end to support armr17 and extends rearwardly therefrom, a's may best lbe seen in'FIGUREl; Said v Y' cam 44 comprises a .forward linear portionl 45y 'substan-` i tially' axiallynorm'al to support arm 17",` and a rearward arcuate portion 46 curving upwardly fromV said forward Vpredetermined timed sequence.

unitary' construction.

links'43, 49 at tl1e forward endeofzlth/e,'formeijthroug` action vofcrankg41! and crank 47, Y Inxlowered posi;`V f tion, as shown inFIGURE 1", coatingbl'ade 62 will engage l 'n screen 13 forketfecting paint VcoatingandV pushing Vac-V connected screenframe will swing upwardly at their outerY forward ends about their respective pivot axes.

Also engaged Yto the outer end of speed reducer output shaft 49, as by securement to an end plate p, is one end of anV crank arm 47, the other or outer end of whichpis pivotally engaged, Yas by an adjustable bolt 47', to the rearward end of a link 4S Whichrat its forward endris adjustably connected to the rearward end of a companion link 49. Said links 4S, 49 thus constitute, in effect,V a singleV linkbut are adapted Vforirelative extension and contraction for controlling their combined length. It will beinoted that the axis of crank arm 47 forms an obtuse angle with theilongitudinalaxis of crank 41 so that the respective actions brought about Yby the same will be in a Crank arm` 47 maybe provided with elongated slots as at 56 to allow selection of the point of attachment to link 43 so as to control the length of the operative stroke. For example, with crank arm 47 engaged to link 48 at the `forrners outer end, the I stroke of the combined links 48, 49 ywill be of maximum extent,V as indicated diagrammatically in FIGURE* l; while, conversely, securement of link 48 at a point spacedn rotates, links 48,49 willbe moved forwardly and then opening c Vto Vallow` for' clearance offcrank' arm'j47 Sand links148,149, as indicated inFIGURES.

frame 12 in upwardly swung relation so that a blank work piece w may be positioned upon print table 6, crank arm 47 and companion links48,` 49 will be in such relation that squeegee carrier 55 will be in rearward position with squeegee 59, `being out of contact with screen 13 and with coating blade 62 engaging said screen 13 for paint pushing purposes. It will be seen that cam follower 43 engages cam 44 in the rearward region of the linear portion 4S thereof and thus exerts a downward or depressing effect thereon, overcoming bias of spring Z5. As output shaft 40 of speed reducer 36 moves counter clockwise from the position shown in FIGURE 1, cam follower 43 will be caused to move along the arcuate portion `46 of cam 45 causing the maintenance of squeegee frame S together with attached screen frame 12 in elevated rela-V tion while simultaneously crank arm 47 and links 48, 49

will coact so as, to cause squeegeefcarrierSS to be moved' forwardly to the outer end of squeegee frame S. During the forward stroke of links 48, 49 constitute the operative:V

movement of coating blade 62.

l-As cam follower 43 reaches theupper end of cam 44,. its depressing effect upon the latter is terminated so that the same is, 'in effect, restored to inuence of spring 25..

l However, as cam follower 43 is Vmoved into the position Accordingly, asV output shaft 40 l' rearwardlyn a reciprocating manner'for purposes to be `described below.Bas`e plate 1 may be Vprovidedfwith an i shown in full linesin FIGURE 5, cam 44 will maintain 'contact therewith so that the former provides a restraint preventinga jarring downward rocking of squeegee frame S'under spngfrbrias sorthat said squeegee frameS will swing ldownwardly into a horizontal or loweredrpositi'on,`

i as shown in FIGURES, in a relatively slow descent.V

Asthe distance Ybetween rails 18,18' andV screen, 13, when V j cal distance between same when in elevatedmposition byV virtue vof the length of connecting chain utilized, squeegee f neath link .49, is engaged to ja pivot pin 52 journaled inr ears 53,Y 53'; mounted on the'gupper face yofthe topplate i V54'of a squeegee carrier,'designated broadlySS.V vPlate 54jis ,mounted on two.V pair of rollersV 5:6,"56 disposed inY tandem andengaged upon railsv 18,l 18`for traversing i in-loweredY position (FIGURE 5) is less than `the vertibar 59 Ywill be disposed' in operative position upon said V` screen 13 when frame S is lowered. By reason lof the movement therealong of squeegeearrier 55; Supported.V n

dependingly from the forward end of plate'54 is asupport. bracket 5,7 for mounting, through"conventional'adjustable f meansa s'queegee` bar 58, fabricated as ofiwood or the; like; and -beinggroovedin its downwardlyA directedl edge.

for receiving kaV flexible' ,squeegee V59j which latter` is pre-,V sented to engage screen 13 for forcing ink or paintfthere- Ythrough for imprinting of the Workiblank' w.; h

. f Formed in carriage plate'54, `substantially. centrally i thereof, is an'openingV 6 6 through which passes a flexible connector, as a ehain,"161, th'egupper end of whichis e 'n' '.gagedV to the" forward endofend extension member 51 K f "andthe lower end ofwhich is-secured to theV central, 'upperV Y i marginal portionofa coating blade 62, as made 'of'wood,`

'Y metal, ete.` VSaidblade 62, .beingflocated*.-rearwardlyf'of'l sque'egeerbar 58 extends substantially' the width ofscreen "13 and isvverticallfy Yslideably' ,r'eeeived within a'plurality Y `VVof guide-'lmembers .63, such as spaced-apart :rods welded orotherwisefXed at .their upper .end'vsj to the under face Y VVof plate 54 for directin'gly restraining;thefgmovement ofVVV saidrblade-62'fbetween upperjand downwardpositions,

forwardv end ofsaidengaged links will be upwardly piv- Whereby, upon continued lrotatipn of output shaft from the'condition'show'n in full llines in `FIGURE 5, squeegeecarrier 59 be moved rearwardly rive'at the end of such strokesubstantially simultaneously with 'thel engagement ofcarn follower 43 with 44, so

consequent to ja lifting or lowering through Psvtting of theA tion asisqlleeged` carrier 'moves forwardlyto present tofpreventl Theoper'ation 0f machineA is' asffllowszjNith .the n thatth'e immediate successive increment of travelof cam:y ,I follower; 43 will cause ,theV rocking of squeegee' framefS, v

as Yshownin FIGUREI. 'V Y V Thus, in viewV ofthe foregoing, machine incorporates A[arnovel yet` structurally simple .means for bringingabout;

the ynecessary ,butV Vtirnedfsequence of operation, so that- `sque`egeeg59-etfectsfits printing stroke withisrsqueegeeA VVframe:Sgmaintained ink loweredfposition and at complef vtion ofits `stroke' isjremoved from;operativev relation with screen 13' as s'queegeeframe S is upwardly rocked-Atok i Y.allow fortheactionof coating@` blade 62 which `'occurs `while said squeegee frameis inyiipward position. Thus,`

.Camifollower 43 andcarn 44 coactto bring about recipro-4v 1 Vealyrockingmovementofvsqueegee frameSgwhile crank l' arm 47,.',links 48, 49- and their-elated Vstructure concur kr'entlyhcause Vthe desired` alternating printingfand paint i scraping strokes.

Y 'p It .is quite'obviousAthatthrough'adjustnrentof thelrelal: tive links ofrerank arm 47^`andllinks 48, 49, theV printing u v stroke may'besocontrolled asA tofrender sameadaptable A for'work blanks wofva'rying dirnensions ..-fY i v j Machine Ajxis a highly-4 compachunit readily f by a single'individual and lieingnor" durableconstruction foff'm'ore modest'lusers'.

It'fshouldbe understoodtliat changes lmedications,

concurrent action of crank arm 47 `andlinks 48, Y49, the

for effecting the'printing oroperative stroke and will arrtively, economically producedand thus withinthe Yrange screen-bearing frame in its rearward portion for swing-V able movement between lowered, operative position and elevated inoperative position, a squeegee-support frame disposed above said screen-bearing frame, support arms integral with the rearward end of said squeegee-support frame and extending perpendicularly downwardly'therefrom, means pivotally mounting said support arms for swingable movement of said squeegee-support frame between elevated and lowered positions, means connecting said screen-bearing frame and said squeegee-support frame for joint swingable movement, a squeegee carrier mounted on said squeegee frame for reciprocal movement forwardly and rearwardly therealong, a prime mover mounted on said base rearwardly of said squeegee-support frame, a crank operatively engaged to, and driven by, said prime mover, and having an axis of rotation parallel to the pivot axis of said squeegee-support trarne, said axis of rotation of said crank being aligned with or above the path of rearward movement of said squeegee carrier, a cam follower carried on said crank, a cam mounted 0n one of said support arms and projecting perpendicularly rearwardly therefrom, said cam having an upwardly curved end portion extending beyond the axis of rotation of said crank, said cam being disposed for engagement by said cam follower for effecting reciprocal raising and y lowering of said squeegee-support frame together with said screen-bearing frame, means biasing said squeegee-A support frame in downwardly swung position, and means driven by said crank for etecting reciprocal travel of said squeegee carrier. Y

2. A screen printing machine as dened in claim 1 and further characterized by said meansreffecting travel of said squeegee carrier comprising a crank arm engaged to said crank, a link'engaged to said crank at one end,

an extension fixed on the other end of said link, andl means pivotally carrier. Y y

3. A Screen printing machineas deined in claim l and engaging said extension tosaid squeegee further characterized by means adapting said` link yandV said crank arm for mutual relative adjustment for con-` trolling the stroke of said squeegee carrier, and pivotal' means interengaging said link and said crank arm.

4. A screen printing machine as defined in claim l and further characterized by an arm having a linear portion between its upwardly curved end portion and the proximate support arm. Y

5. A screen printing machine as dened in claim 4 and further characterized by the upwardly curved portion of the cam being presented at the rearward end thereof.

References Cited bythe Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS EUGENE R. CAPOZVIO, Prl'mry Examiner.

ROBERT E. PULP-REY, Examiner. 

1. A SCREEN PRINTING MACHINE COMPRISING A BASE HAVING A FIXED WORK-RECEIVING TABLE, A SCREEN-BEARING FRAME DISPOSED ABOVE SAID TABLE, MEANS FOR PIVOTALLY MOUNTING SAID SCREEN-BEARING FRAME IN ITS REARWARD PORTION FOR SWINGABLE MOVEMENT BETWEEN LOWERED, OPERATIVE POSITION AND ELEVATED INOPERATIVE POSITION, A SQUEEGEE-SUPPORT FRAME DISPOSED ABOVE SAID SCREEN-BEARING FRAME, SUPPORT ARMS INTEGRAL WITH THE REARWARD END OF SAID SQUEEGEE-SUPPORT FRAME AND EXTENDING PERPENDICULARLY DOWNWARDLY THEREFROM, MEANS PIVOTALLY MOUNTING SAID SUPPORT ARMS FOR SWINGABLE MOVEMENT OF SAID SQUEEGEE-SUPPORT FRAME BETWEEN ELEVATED AND LOWERED POSITIONS, MEANS CONNECTING SAID SCREEN-BEARING FRAME AND SAID SQUEEGEE-SUPPORT FRAME FOR JOINT SWINGABLE MOVEMENT, A SQUEEGEE CARRIER MOUNTED ON SAID SQUEEGEE FRAME FOR RECIPROCAL MOVEMENT FORWARDLY AND REARWARDLY THEREALONG, A PRIME MOVER MOUNTED ON SAID BASE REARWARDLY OF SAID SQUEEGEE-SUPPORT FRAME, A CRANK OPERATIVELY ENGAGED TO, AND DRIVEN BY, SAID PRIME MOVER, AND HAVING AN AXIS OF ROTATION PARALLEL TO THE PIVOT AXIS OF SAID SQUEEGEE-SUPPORT FRAME, SAID AXIS OF ROTATION OF SAID CRANK BEING ALIGNED WITH OR ABOVE THE PATH OF REARWARD MOVEMENT OF SAID SQUEEGEE CARRIER, A CAM FOLLOWER CARRIED ON SAID CRANK, A CAM MOUNTED ON ONE OF SAID SUPPORT ARMS ON PROJECTING PERPENDICULARLY REARWARDLY THEREFROM, SAID CAM HAVING AN UPWARDLY CURVED END PORTION EXTENDING BEYOND THE AXIS OF ROTATION OF SAID CRANK, SAID CAM BEING DISPOSED FOR ENGAGEMENT BY SAID CAM FOLLOWER FOR EFFECTING RECIPROCAL RAISING AND LOWERING OF SAID SQUEEGEE-SUPPORT FRAME TOGETHER WITH SAID SCREEN-BEARING FRAME, MEANS BIASING SAID SQUEEGEESUPPORT FRAME IN DOWNWARDLY SWUNG POSITION, AND MEANS DRIVE BY SAID CRANK FOR EFFECTING RECIPROCAL TRAVEL OF SAID SQUEEGEE CARRIER. 